Wringer



y 1943- w. L. KAUFFMAN, 2D 2,323,330

WRINGER Filed March 17, 1957 3 Shets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

y 1943- w. L. KAUFFMAN, 2D 2,323,330

W1 R INGER Filed March 17, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 38 H0. )0. Mmfi If VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented July 6, 1943 WRINGER Walter L. Kaufiman, II, Erie, Pa., assignor to Lovell Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 17, 1937, Serial No. 131,329

19 Claims.

Power wringers are usually provided with rolls and means for exerting pressure on the rolls. They are also generally provided with some sort of release device permitting the immediate release of pressure on the rolls to relieve the operator should the operator be caught in the rolls. Devices are also usually provided with some means for adjusting the pressure on the rolls and preferably with some means for conveniently restoring pressure to the rolls when they are released. In the present case the pressure is restored through a resetting device involving a toggle in which some of the connections are reset to place the toggle in operative condition for resetting the pressure. Features and details of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the wringer partly in section.

Fig. 2 an elevation of the release end of the wringer with the parts in release position.

Fig. 3 an elevation of the release end of the wringer with the parts in position for resetting the pressure.

Fig. 4 a section on the line 44 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 a perspective view of the trip lever on section 44 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section of a modification.

Fig. '7 an elevation of the release end of the wringer of the modification showing the parts in released position.

Fig. 7a. a section on the line la-la in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 a similar view showing the parts in resetting position.

Fig. 9 a section on the line 99 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 a section on the line l0|0 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 shows an elevation partly in section of a further modification.

Fig. 11a. a section on the line lla l la in Fig.

The lower shaft 5 is journaled in bearings 8 fixed in the side stiles. The upper shaft 1 is journaled in bearings 9 slidingly mounted in the side stiles. A spring Ill is arranged on the bearings 9. It is adjusted by a screw II operating through a fitting l2. The fitting I2 is mounted in a top bar 13. The top bar at one end has a detachable interlocking connection with the side stile by means of shoulders 14 and I5 struck up in the side stile and the end of the top bar respectively.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 5 a release and resetting device is as follows: A toggle has a link 16 which is of channel form, the sides of the channel straddling the side stile. A companion link II has side plates which are connected by bridge plate I 8. The side plates are pivotally secured to the link I6 by screws or rivets l9. The side plates are pivotally mounted to the stile by screws or rivets 20.

The upper ends of the side plates of the link I6 is provided with hooks 2| These hooks engage lips 22 which are bent inwardly from the sides of a trip lever 23. The lips 22 extend into pivot openings 24 in'the side walls of the top bar. The upper ends of the lever it are inside of the sides of the trip lever 23. The trip lever is yieldingly held in set position by a spring 25.

With the parts in set position as shown in Fig. 1, the points of connection established by the pins I9, 2!! and the hook and lip 2|, are slightly out of alignment as indicated in Fig. 1, so that the strain of the spring tends to hold the toggle in set position and thus makes it stable when in set position. The hooks rest on the lips 22 closely adjacent to the pivot point at the narrow end of the slot 24. When the lever 23 is swung by depressing the inner end of the lever the lips 22 are inclined and when the inclination reaches a point where the frictional engagement between the hooks and the lips is less than the camming action of the inclination of the lips, the hooks 2| slide oil" the lips and this permits of the upward movement of the top bar releasing the pressure of the spring.

The interlocking shoulders l4 and I5 are such that with the release of the release end of the top bar, the up swinging of the top bar releases the opposite end of the top bar.

When it is desired to reset the pressure on the wringer the top is put in place with the shoulders l4 and i5 in engagement and the hooks are re-engaged with the lips 22, the toggle being swung upwardly as shown in Fig. 3 to permit this engagement. The toggle is then swung downwardly forcing the top to its set position and bringing the levers to the set position shown in Fig. 1. The device is then reset ready for normal use.

In the modification shown in. Figs. 6 to 10 a toggle is provided having a link 23 of channel form which is pivoted to the top bar by a screw or bolt 2?. The sides of the channel straddle the sides of the stile. A companion link 28 is connected with the link 25 by pins or rivets 29. The link 28 preferably has the side plates which are connected by a bridge plate 29a. The link 28 has a slot 39 extending lengthwise of the link. The slot 30 is provided with an ofiset 3|. This slot and its offset are adapted to receive screws 32 extending into the walls of the side stiles.

tarting with the links in set position shown in Fig. 6, if it is desired to release the pressure it is only necessary to force the link 28 laterally so as to carry the pins 32 out of the offset portions 3! .of the slots 38. When the pins are brought into register with the slot 33 an upward movement of the entire toggle is permitted by the sliding of the pins in the slots and the parts take on the position shown in Fig. 7. When it is desired to reset the pressure the links are opened and the pin 32 is brought into the ofiset portion iii of the slot. This is accomplished automatically by the weight of the link 28 as the lever or link 23 is swung upwardly. With the parts in the position so shown in Fig. 8 the toggle may be depressed, thus drawing the top bar down and resetting the pressure with the parts shown in Fig. 1.

In order to conveniently effect lateral movement of the lever 23, bell crank levers 33 are pivotally mounted on the top bar by means of a bolt 34. The lower ends of the levers have the contact projections 35 which are adapted to engage the edge of the lever 28 immediately opposite the offset portion of the lever 23 when the parts are in set position. The bell crank levers 33 have the laterally extending arms 36 which engage lever ends 31 of. cross bars 38 arranged at the front and rear of the top bar. The lever arms 3'! have pivot projections 39 which extend through slots in the walls of the top bar. The pivot ends 39 have lips 39a which are initially at right angles to the extensions 39 so as to enter the lateral slots 41. ends, the lips 39a are bent slightly so as to lock the pivot ends in the pivot slots.

With the parts in set position as shown in Fig. 6, the operating rods 38 are lifted through the action of the bell crank levers 33, this lever being forced to its set position by the action of the link 28. The arrangement of the links when in set position is such that the pivot points are slightly out of alignment as indicated in Fig. 6 so that there is a definite. holding action of the levers through the pressure of the main spring. In other words, these pivots are arranged in stable position and are swung into setting action past the center.

In the operation of the device one or the other of the operating levers is depressed. This swings the bell crank lever which in turn operating on the lever 23 pushes this lever laterally so as to carry the offset portions 3| of the slot past the pins 32 and into register with the slots 30 whereupon the levers are free to move upwardly and to permit the release movement.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 to 14 a lever 42 of channel form is pivotally mounted on the top bar by means of a bolt 43. The sides After the insertion of the pivot of the lever preferably straddle the stile in set position. A link 44 has side plates which are connected by bridge piece 45. The side plates are arranged along the side of the stile and are pivoted by means of a pin 46 on the side stiles, the pin extending through slots 46a in cars 4611 struck up from the side stile. The lower end 41 of the link 44 is arranged to engage a hook or shoulder 48 on the inner wall of the link 42. When the parts are in set position as shown in Fig. l the linkage has the engaging connections at the shoulder, the pin 46 and the pin 43 are out of alignment so that the levers are past center or in stable relation. When it is desired to release the mechanism, the link 44 is forced laterally, the slot 46a permitting this movement of the pin 45 and this disengages the shoulder 4'3 from the end of the lever 44 from the shoulder 48 through the lever action of the bottom of the link 4% acting with a fulcrum at 49 on the inner wall of the link 42. This outward pressure fulcruming at 49 not only tends to disengage the end of the lever from the shoulder 48 but also to move the link 42 outwardly so as to carry the pivot past center and into unstable relation. As the bottom of the lever 44 disengages from the shoulder 48 the toggle is broken and the top is free to move upwardly with the parts as shown in Fig. 12. In order to reset the pressure on the spring the levers are swung outwardly, the end of the lever 44 put into engagement with the shoulder 48 as shown in Fig. 13 and the levers swung downwardly thus forcing the top down to reset the pressure.

In order to conveniently move the link 44 laterally there is provided a bell crank lever 50 which is pivoted by means of a pin 500. on the top bar. There is one of these bell crank levers on each side of the top bar, and the lower ends of these levers engage the edge of the link 44, this edge being curved with the center at the pin 46 to retain its relation with the bell crank lever as the lever is swung. The opposite arms 5 I of the bell crank levers extend under the lever arms of the operating rod, the lever arms and operating rods being identical with those shown in the modification Figs. 6 to 10 and being mounted in the same manner. Springs 52 are coiled around the bolt 50a, the ends of the springs being anchored on lips 53 struck up from the top bar. The opposite ends of the springs 54 are anchored on to the arms 5| and yieldingly hold the bell crank levers in the set position, the lips 53 forming stops for positioning the bell crank lever in such set positions. In operation, when the operating bar is depressed, the arm 5| is swung downwardly and the bottom of the bell crank lever is swung laterally and engages the edge of the link 44. The link is swung outwardly, fulcruming at 49, and disengages the end of the link from the shoulder 48 so that the connection between the bell crank levers is broken and the top is free to swing upwardly as shown in Fig. 12. The parts automatically take their set positions as the resetting device is operated, resetting the parts in normal position.

It will be noted that in each of these structures the breaking of the toggle either in one or the other of the connections efiects the release action without a violent outthrow of the links of the toggle lever. Such outthrow is objectionable both from the effect upon the operator in adding to the panic, but also involves some danger to any one in the path of the links when so operated.

We do not claim in this application broadly a joint between the members of the toggle giving lost motion, as such structure is broadly claimed in application Ser. No. 131,328.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a wringer, having a frame comprising a base and side stiles; a top bar mounted on the stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; and pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the top bar; the combination with the top bar, frame, and pressure means of a release means comprising a toggle having operative connections with the frame, an operative connection between the links of the toggle, a latch on the top bar having an engaging surface, trip means for inclining the engaging surface to effect a release, and a hook on a link engaging said inclinable surface, said link being released from the top bar by the inclining of the surface.

2. In a wringer, having a frame comprising a base and side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a releasable top bar for the frame; and a pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the top bar; the combination with the frame, top bar and pressure means of a release device for the top bar comprising a toggle having operative connections with the frame and top bar, said toggle including links having a releasable connection between them and means movable relatively to the links for releasing said connection to release the top bar.

3. In a wringer, having a frame comprising a base and side stiles; a top bar mounted on the stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; and pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the top bar; the combination with the frame, top bar and pressure means of a release means comprising a toggle having operative connections with the frame and top bar and an operative connection between the links of the toggle, said toggle being released to release the top bar by initially disengaging the pressure-sustaining surfaces of the connection between the links and the top bar.

4. In a wringer, having a frame comprising a base and side stiles; a top bar mounted on the frame, rolls mounted in the frame; and pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the top bar; the combination with the frame, top. bar and pressure means of a release means comprising a toggle having operative connections with the frame and top bar and an operative connection between the links of the toggle, said toggle being released to release the top bar by initially disengaging the pressure-sustaining sur-- faces of the connection between the links.

5. In a wringer, having a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; and a pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the frame; the combination with the frame and pressure means of release devices releasing said pressure means comprising a pair of links, one of said links having an operative connection with said frame and the other of said links having an operative connection with said pressure means and an operative connection between said links to form a toggle, one of said connections being formed by a pin and L-shaped slot, the pin being in the off-set portion of said slot with the links in the set position of the lever and releasable by relative movement of the pin out of the off-set.

6. In a wringer, having a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; and a pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the frame; the combination with the frame and pressure means of release devices releasing said pressure means comprising a pair of links, one of said links having an operative connection with said frame and the other of said links having an operative connection with said pressure means and an operative connection between said links to form a toggle, one of said connections being formed by an L-shaped slot in one of the links and a pin on the part to which the slotted link is connected, said pin and slot forming the connection with the pin in the off-set portion of said slot with the links in their set position. 7. In a wringer, having a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; and a pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the frame; the combination with the frame and pressure means of release devices releasing said pressure means comprising a pair of links, one of said links having an operative connection with said frame and the other of said links having an operative connection with said pressure means and an operative connection between said links to form -a toggle, one of said connections having lost motion locked against action when the toggle is set and afiording freedom of movement when released independently of toggle action to release the pressure exerted through the toggle.

8. In a wringer having a frame, rolls mounted in the frame, and a pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls, the combination with said frame and pressure means of a release for the means comprising a toggle having operative connections with the frame and means and an operative connection between the links of the toggle, one of said connections having disengagable pressure sustaining surfaces, and a trip mechanism movable relative to the links effecting direct disengaging relative movement of the disengageable surfaces independent of the toggle action.

9. In a wringer having a frame, rolls mounted in the frame, and a pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls, the combination with said frame and pressure means of a release for the means comprising a toggle having operative connections with the frame and means and an operative connection between the links of the toggle, one of said connections having disengageable pressure sustaining surfaces, a link leading to the disengageable connection having a fulcrum engagement adjacent to the connection and independently of any toggle action operating as a lever for disengaging the pressure sustaining surfaces.

10. In a wringer having a frame comprising a base and side stiles, a top bar mounted on the stiles, rolls mounted in the frame, and pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the top bar, the combination with the frame, pressure means and top bar of a release means comprising a toggle having operative connections with the frame and top bar and an operative connection between the links of the toggle, one of said connections having disengageable pressure sustaining surfaces and a trip member movable relatively to the links effecting direct disengaging relative movement of the disengageable surfaces independent of the toggle action for release.

11. In a wringer having a, frame, a top bar mounted on the frame, rolls mounted in the frame and pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the top bar, the combination with said frame, pressure means and top bar of a release means comprising a toggle having operative connections with the frame and top bar and an operative connection between the links of the toggle, the pressure sustaining surfaces of the connection between the links and the top bar being disengageable to release the top bar, and a trip member movable relatively to the links effecting direct disengaging relative movement of the disengageable surfaces for release.

12. In a wringer having a frame, a top bar mounted on the frame, rolls mounted in the frame, and pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the top bar, the combination with the frame, top bar and pressure means of a release means comprising a toggle having operative connections with the frame and top bar and an operative connection between the links of the toggle, the pressure sustaining surfaces of the connection between the links being disengageable to release the top bar, and a trip member movable relatively to the links effecting direct disengaging relative movement of the disengageable surfaces for release.

13. In a wringer having a frame, a top bar mounted on the frame, rolls mounted in the frame and pressure means exerting pressure on the rolls from the top bar, the combination with the frame, top bar and pressure means of a release means comprising a toggle having operative connections with the frame and top bar, and an operative connection between the links of the toggle, the connection between the frame and toggle having disengageable pressure sustaining surfaces for releasing the top bar, and a trip mechanism movable relatively to the links effecting direct disengaging relative. movement of said disengageable surfaces for release.

14. In a clothes wringer, a lower frame, a pair of cooperative rolls mounted in said frame, resilient means normally urging said rolls into cooperative pressure engagement with one another, a top frame, releasable latch means to attach one end of said frames, lever and link mechanism connecting the opposite end of said frames, said lever and link mechanism being operable as a toggle lever to draw the frames together to create and sustain roll pressure, a connection of said toggle lever mechanism comprising a closed slot and a pivot within the slot, and means to relatively move the pivot within the slot whereupon the mechanism fails to operate as a toggle lever and releases the link from pressure sustaming position. permitting upward movement of the top frame without substantial outward movement of the lever mechanism.

15. In a clothes wringer, a lower frame, a pair of cooperative rolls mounted in said frame, resilient means normally urging said rolls into cooperative pressure engagement with one another, a top frame, releasable latch means to attach one end of said frames, lever and link mechanism connecting the opposite end of said frames, said lever and link mechanism being operable as a toggle lever to draw the frames together to create and sustain roll pressure, a connection of said toggle lever mechanism comprising a closed slot and a pivot within the slot, and means permitting relative movement of the pivot within the slot, whereupon the mechanism fail to operate as a toggle lever and releases the link from pressure sustaining position, permitting upward movement of the top frame without substantial outward movement of the lever mechanism.

16. In a clothes wringer, a lower frame, a pair of cooperative rolls mounted in said frame, resilient means normally urging said rolls into oooperative pressure engagement with one another, a top frame, releasable latch means to'attach one end of said frames, lever and link mechanism connecting the opposite end of said frames, latch means to hold said mechanism together as a toggle lever operable to draw the frames together to create and sustain roll pressure, means to disengage said latch, whereupon the mechanism is permitted to separate and fails as a toggle lever, said separation acting to release the link from pressure sustaining position, permitting upward movement of the top frame without substantial outward movement of the lever and link mechanism.

1'7. In a clothes wringer including a plurality of pressure rolls, a pressure spring, and a plurality of separable frame members normally urged apart under pressure exerted by said pressure spring, the combination of a manually operable reset mechanism interconnecting said separable frame members and adapted to force said frame members into operating position against the force exerted by said pressure spring; said reset mechanism comprising a reset lever, a reset link, a pivotal connection between said reset lever and one of said separable frame members, a pivotal connection between said link and one of said separable frame members, and release mechanism for one of said pivotal connections comprising a manually operable member independent of said reset lever whereby one of said pivotal connections may be released to permit relative movement of said separable frame members without imparting movement to said reset lever.

18. in a clothes wringer including a plurality of pressure rolls, a pressure spring, and a plurality of separable frame members normally urged apart under pressure exerted by said pressure spring, the combination of a manually operable reset mechanism interconnecting said separable frame members and adapted to force said frame members into operating position against the force exerted by said pressure spring; said reset mechanism comprising a reset lever, a reset link, a plurality of pivotal connections operativel interconnecting said link, said reset lever, and said separable frame members; and a release mechanism for one of said pivotal connections comprising a manually operable member independent of said reset lever whereby one of said pivotal connections may be released to permit relative movement of said separable frame members without imparting movement to said reset lever.

19. In a clothes wringer including a pressure spring and a pair of relatively movable springurged members, a spring release and reset mechanism including a manually operable reset lever, a pivotal connection between said reset lever and one of said spring-urged members, a reset link, a pivotal connection between said link and the other spring-urged member, a pivotal connection between said reset lever and said link such that movement of said reset lever will be effective to move said spring-urged members into predetermined position against the forc exerted by the pressure spring while said lever and link as- ;sume a predetermined stable position, and manually operable means independent of said reset lever whereby one of said pivotal connections may be released to permit relative movement of said spring-urged members without imparting movement to said reset lever.

WALTER L. KAUFFMAN, II. 

